Art Composition: Golden Mean Point Perspective Linear & More

Learn how to master art composition with these articles covering the principles of art design. You’ll learn how to use the golden mean, work with linear perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective and atmospheric perspective; study the importance of the focal point; and learn art composition rules and view composition examples.

I just got back from a much needed week of vacation on Hilton Head island. The trip did me a world of good; not only did I get to relax and spend time with family, I got a chance to step away from my regular life and look at it (or ignore it completely) from...

Studying a master such as Degas is a solid step that you can take to get closer to painting with a similar level of expression. His use of color and ideal compositions are to be admired, and artist Damian Callan understands how to practice the techniques that can help you.

One of the most magical qualities created in representational painting is the illusion of depth on a flat surface. The better we understand the two forms of perspective involved in the illusion, the easier it becomes to represent.

For Abandoned Row Houses, Richmond, Virginia, I started in the top corner of the central roof, with the green “trash” trees and vines, the delicate Prussian blue sky, and the rich brick-red of the buildings. This trio established the whole key of the painting. The tops of the buildings have an ornamental entablature that...

No matter how beautiful the subject matter or impressive the application technique, if the composition of visual elements within a painting are not strong, it will ultimately be considered a failure. When we set out to paint, it is easy to become seduced by the subject matter. We fall in love with what it...

Classical Painting: The Realist Sight Size Method with Judith Kudlow If you love the classical painting styles of still lifes that grace the walls of so many museums and stately homes, you’ll adore the lessons taught here by Judith Kudlow. Learn how to get accurate sizes and proportions with this video on painting what...

Today’s message comes from Mark Mehaffey, who wrote the following for Watercolor Artist (February 2013). He says that “when it comes to painting, most of us want to pick up our brushes and dive right in. That way of working is fun, but only occasionally will it result in a great painting. If you...

Richard McKinley is world-famous for not only his pastel landscape paintings, but also for his teaching of art. He’s been a long-time contributor to Pastel Journal, The Artist’s Magazine, and ArtistsNetwork, sharing his “pastel pointers” and more for artists of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive e-magazine that you...

The nature-inspired watercolor paintings of Linda Kemp remind me of a small patch of a sandbar here, where I’ve sat many times. I think it’s because her paintings represent something bigger; they show a piece of a puzzle in a unique way that still captures the tranquil moments I’ve experienced...

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